Longer Lasting Hybrid Batteries

Every time I see a large, brand new, gas-guzzling vehicle drive by I am reminded of the limited resources needed to make it run. As a cyclist, I am interested in promoting other types of transportation that will use less petroleum and benefit the individual and the community. Several years ago I was in the market for a new car and the hybrid seemed a good option. After some research and some hearsay, I determined that the life span of the battery was too short and I didn’t want to risk having to replace it at great expense in a few short years. Today’s hybrids are evolving into the car of the future, with batteries that last much longer and that are less expensive. But what if we could have electric car batteries that lasted even longer and that were as inexpensive to replace as the battery in today’s cars? We could discourage large vehicles by taxing them on the amount of gas they use and give “conservation credits” for other choices, such as mass transit or bikes used for transport. The bigger a vehicle is, the more gas it takes to make it run - depleting our natural resources. You can choose to drive this type of car, but you pay extra to have that luxury. These taxes would go to research…maybe to produce a better battery for hybrids? http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/04/psu_selected_as_site_for_testing_toyota_prius_hybrid.html

by Debra Mosso

Ethics & Planned Obsolescence

By: Mohamed Al-Khayarin

In this article, the author explains that Planned Obsolescence may make sense from a business perspective, but rarely is it the right thing to do, from an ethical perspective.  The article astutely points out that protecting the environment has become a goal for so many companies and countries, and yet they all produce goods that break or fail within 3 years of construction.

This line of thinking produces numerous questions.  First, is it right to sell customers inferior products?  Second, what is it doing to the environment?  Third, is it safe for the consumer?

Blu Ray Disc

This article explains Planned obsolescence and how it was popularized in the 1950’s and how it’s a big trend in the Electronic Market. This article was written in January 2010 and it states that DVD players will be replaced by Blu-Ray Disc in 5 to 7 years. So that means that millions of homes will be replacing their DVD players with the next best thing. Yet, how long will Blu-Ray Disc stay ahead of the technology curve? Five to 10 years, or just long enough for the numbers to show that enough people have bought Blu-Ray Player so they will have to upgrade to the next best thing.

“And with advertising and marketing in the CE industry firmly lined up behind Blu-ray Disc — when was the last time you saw an ad or a commercial for a standard DVD player? — I find it highly unlikely that anyone whose DVD player dies is going to rush out and buy another DVD player. Instead, they're going to buy a Blu-ray Disc player, in accordance with Brooks Stevens' contention that the reason those DVD players died in the first place was a carefully orchestrated move by the CE industry to instill in the consumer "the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary."

If you are a rebel to keep the dying DVDs and DVD players take note that manufactures of DVD products have put into measures to force you to switch to the next best thing out of annoyance. The scratches, smudges or even the durability of a DVD are very low. This is done on purpose so that you have to buy a new copy or in a deeper thought for you to wait for the better and improved DVD….or Blu-Ray Disc.

“The same goes for DVD software. Manufacturers could have put a protective layer on DVD to prevent scratching or other damage, but failed to do so, citing the extra cost. How many of DVDs purchased 10, seven, even five years ago are still playable, particularly in households with children (or adults who like to have a cocktail or three while watching classic film noir)?”

We could all imagine the tons of the plastic and electronic waste is would create!

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/tks-take/-key-blu-ray-discs-success-built-obsolescence

Ryan Flitcroft

Where and how far have "Planned Obsolescence" taken us?

Last week I went to the mall to buy a pair of shoes and my friend went with me because we decided to stop and have a dinner after leaving the mall. When I got to the shoes department in one of the biggest store in the mall, I didn’t find what I was looking for except a pair of shoes that I didn’t really like. However, because I need a new pair as soon as possible to wear for a birthday party next day, I asked my friend to help me decide. When I asked him, he directly said, “buy them you will buy a new pair three months from now anyways”. He is right, I’m going to replace them with new once soon. This is how we think nowadays. We don’t pay enough attention to our purchases because we know that we are going to buy the same stuff and replace the old once soon. This is where the idea of Planned Obsolescence took us so far.

In his article “Planned Obsolescence: A Plan or a Plot?” Tom Egelhoff reminds me of how back in the days products used to be stronger and last longer. In the beginning of his article, he says “When I was a boy, growing up in the mid-west, I remember hearing my father remarking about many products he bought, "The salesman told me we'll never have to buy another one, it'll last a lifetime." This is the way how people used to think before the purchase. They ask about the lifetime of the product and they less likely to buy some products that do not last long. Nowadays, we can not ask the same question to a salesman because we know that we always have to replace what we purchase soon, because of the changes of either product technological features or style. We are accepting the idea behind Planned Obsolescence so we should find solution for this issue and not ask business owners or marketers do it instead because I believe we are one of the main responsibles for that issue. 

More:
Planned Obsolescence:
A Plan or a Plot?
http://www.smalltownmarketing.com/plannedobsolescence.html


Added by:
Saud Alsultan

Free Geek.

Ok then,
we've been talking about the recycling and  the obsolete hardware for the past 5 weeks..
here is something a bit different..

what would you do with your old hardware or computer?
sometimes it is a must to change your PC or laptop in order to keep up with the updates.. and the new versions of every software..
or to have compatible software/hardware..

but what would you do with the old one?

it's simple: www.FreeGeek.org

Free Geek accepts computers and computer related hardware in any condition, so bring your stuff over to us regardless of whether it is functional or not. Free Geek proudly participates in the Oregon E-Cycles program which offers free and convenient recycling of computers, monitors, and televisions for all Oregonians. If you have more than 7 of these items, please call ahead to determine if we will accept the additional computers, monitors, or televisions for free.
Free Geek accepts nearly everything that plugs into a computer or an electrical outlet. We are happy to accept your printer, scanner, router, UPS, digital camera, PDA, cell phone, and a whole lot more! Free Geek has suggested monetary donation amounts for individual pieces of hardware. These funds support our volunteer programs, keep the lights on, and are much appreciated! As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization all donations to Free Geek are tax deductible.
If you will be bringing in pallet loads of equipment, please call ahead to set up an appointment and verify what we are able to accept free of charge.

 --------------

Added by:
Fahad AlNassar

360 Meltdown

Planned Obsolescence

I am choosing one of the biggest and most notable electronic devices known by the consumer today that fails frequently, the Xbox 360.  The Xbox 360 is a console used to play game, listen to music, watch videos, and stream the net.  This is a well known device amongst kids, teens and even adults. Even with their ups and down this system is still being purchased today and enjoyed by many.

The Xbox 360 was released in the United States on November 16^th 2005 and on that date many did not expect the situations they would be encountering. Personally I have had three different Xbox consoles experience problems in the past and have had to get them fixed. In an Interview from a source that worked at Microsoft they said that the failure rate for an Xbox 360 console is at our around 30%. That to me is outrageous being as the 360 console has been in production for five years now and they haven’t changed the problem. This without a doubt is planned obsolescence because they probably knew while producing this console that this could happen and kept it that way to make more money. IT is also said that not only does the console fail on its own that even certain games can accelerate your consoles failure. That to me is a partnership that the console company and gaming company made together to what again, make more money.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/digitaljoystick/archives/129866.asp

Evan Kinto

Put An End to Junk Mail

                  Put an End to Junk Mail!

According to The Clean Air Council, “Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year. Most of it winds up in landfills.” It seems like a daily frustration to go to the mailbox and find it strewn with catalogs, credit card offers, and ads from local utility companies. Then there’s election time, where many people are inundated with cards and letters from political candidates. Don’t they realize they can easily turn off voters by sending this junk mail? How about opening up your front door to find a door hanger from the local pizza parlor?


If you would like to put a stop to most of the junk mail you receive from major national marketers, contact the Direct Marketing Associations Mail Preference Service. You can register quickly and for free online at https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action. For additional information on putting a stop to junk mail, visit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse at http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm.

By:  Victoria Walton